Tire-fabric-building machine



May 6, 1924. L. P. DESTRIBATS .TIRE msiuc BUILDING mcaxuz led June' 17 1920 ANS p is to subsequently form the lar form in its Pa nted May 6. 1924.

LOUIS r. nssrma'rs, or

wanna-on, new masmr.

muzzle-summits xacmmr.

Application filed June 17,

To all whom it Be it known that I, LOUIS P. Diasrnma'rs, a citizen ofFrimcc, and resident of Trenton. in the county of Mercer and State of Ii. w Jersey, have invented a new and useful Inprovement in' Tire-Fabric-Building Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for partially formingthefabric carcasses 'of pneumatic tires, and more particularly the carcasses of the outer shoes or casings of antomobile tires, and has for an object to revide such an apparatus which is adaptes to amemble the several strips or plies of'fabric, used in formin the tire carcass, into an endless t ..t ban for subsequent application to the-device upon which the fabric is to be formed into its designed shape,

Another object consists in providing such a machine in which the rubber covering that tread of the tire may be properly positioned upon the fabric band in close contact therewith.

Another object consists in providing certain improvements in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts whereby the above named and other objects may be efl'eetively attained.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 2 represents a section therethrough, taken in the plane of the line Il"IjI of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The machine includes an upright framework, which may be suitably s'u ported, as upon a pedestal bolted to the' car. This frame is of an o n, substantiaily rectangu- Ower part, as indicated at 1, from which lower part there arises a stanchion 2 that carries a laterally extending arm 3 which has a vertical cross head 4. This cross head 4 is parallel with and substantially equal in length to the stanchion 2, and provides bearin for certain shafts to be hereinafter described. A

A main shaft 5 ismoun-ted. as a stub shaft, in a bearing 6 that is formed in the upper part of the open framework Land this shaft projects from the said framework (Fig. 1) the shaft 1920. Serial No. 889,680.

in' the'same direction as the-arm 3. This of power, and it constitutes the main drive for the machine. This shaft 5 carries a roll- 7, eomposed of metal or other suitable material, which roll is fixed to rotate with the a f Another shaft 8 is journaled at 9 andIQ in the stanchion 2 and cross head 4, immedi, atel above the shaft 5. The {0111111113 Q-and 10 or the shaft 8 are .s'lidab y mounted in the stanchion 2 and cross head 4, as indicated at 1 1, and expansioncoil springs, one of which is shown at 12, serve to yieldingl hold the said journals, and hence the shafl carried thereby, in'the lowermost position. Each end-of the shaft 8 carries a link 13, 14, which are connected to short arms 15, 16, that are keyed. to a rod 17, which is rotat; ably mounted in the stanchion 2 and cross head 4 immediately above and in axial aline-'; ment with the shaft 8. A handle 18 is' fixed to the short arm 16, and it will be seen i that by rocking this handle to the right 8 will be raised with its bearings against the action of the springs 12,

This shaft 8' also has a roll 1.9 fixed to rotate therewith. which roll has a rubber covering 20; and when the shaft 8 is per mitted to be depressed by the springs 12, this rubber covering on its roll nests in frictional contact with the roll 7 on the shaft 5. A gear 21 is fixed on the shaft 5 and meshes with a ar 22 carried by the shaft 8. so that the 53st named shaft is driven, from the shaft 5. When the handle 18 is swung so'as to lift the shaft 8, it'not'only separates the rubber covered-roll 19, from the roll 7,'but also disengages the gears 21v and 22.

At some distance above the shaft 8, there. is mounted in the stanchion 2 and cross-head 4 a stock-roll 23. which is removably held in position by a bolt 24: This stock roll is designed to carry stri s of fabric, such as the duck which is ordmarily. used in form ing: tire carcasses. which stri have been suitably treated with vulc'amzable rubber mmponndjin the customary manner and cut on the bias in suitable lengths- As this; treated fabric is very adhesive, it is customary to wind it u on a roll together with an 105 intermediate strip of untreated fabric, such shaft maybe actuated from a suitable source 55 as-riiuslin, in" order to prevent the several layers from adhering to each other, and, as a take up for this muslin strip when the treated fabric is unwound from the roll 23, I provide a srnallerroll 25, that is slidably and rotathbly';mount'ed' in the-"stanchion 2 and-cross head 4 as indicated at 26, 27. The -mounting-ofthis roll is such as to permit it to be driven by surfacecontact with the material on the stock roll 23,.and its slidable mounting enables it to move away from the last named roll as its size increases due to the acquisition of more and more of the muslin strip. 7 y Anbtherroll 28, which is similar to the mounted on a stub shaft 29' that is carrie by the frame ork .1 in a manner similar 5. It will-benoted that the-'roll fl is '10- adjustable bearing i 2 slidably. fitted in the.

of'the open frame 1. This table extends.

rated at one upper corner of the rectangular frame 1, while the roll 28 is locatedat the other upper corner thereof. another-roll '30, is rotatably carried by a .stub shaft. 31 that is mounted lowei'pmto'f the open frame 1. Thisbearing 32 may be raised and lowered by means.

of a hand screw 33.] 1 Intermediate the rolls 7 and. 28, there is located a table 34whichis carried by brackets 35 which'are' bolted to the upper part from one of the said rolls to the othenand is of a width substantially equal to the lengthfof the sai'd rolls. clips 36 are screwed to the edges =of the table.34 at each side thereof.

A rod 37 is rotatably mou ted in the stanchion '2 and cross head 4 abovethe table 34 and ad'acent the rolls 7 and 19. Four ollars 38 are slidably mounted on the rod 87 and provided with set screws 39 for temporarily securing them against movemerit on the rod in any desired positions. It will be observed that the two collars at each side are arranged with their flanges toward each other, so that each pair, when properly adjusted, may be adapted to perform the function of a guide.

The parts above described are designed to be used in forming the fabric band and the operation is as follows: 7

The leading end of the fabric from the stock roll 23, which fabric is denoted by 40. is passed bctwcen the roll .19, and the roll 7. while the former rollis in its elevatedfposition. This fabric is then led by hand around the rolls 7, 30 and 28. and'its end laid upon the table 34. At this stage, the rear endggithe said strip will appear in the fahric'hetwecn the stock roll 23 and the roll 19. as it is customary to lap the ends of these treated fabric strips and temporarily stick them together in winding up the stock roll. This rear end 'of a strip may ing on the said posed of a sin in Fig. l. rm m y 60. the mounting of the shaft in an pauof guide then be se and broug t' down onto the table 34. The two ends of the first strip are then lapped and caused to unite by adhesion while resttable. Thus a band comle strip or, layer. has been formedabout t e rolls 7, 30 and 28 in substantially triangular form, as plainly shown After this'single band has been if desired, be tightened by turning'down the hand screw 33 and thus depzressing the roll 30,

ext the leading end of the second. or

succeeding strip of treated fabric is inserted between the rolls 7 and 19,,and the handle 18 turned so as,

arated from the following strip,

to permit the "last named roll tobe yieldingly pressed down gndfiip the fabricbctween it and theroll e main shaft 5 is now caused to be actuated in any well manner, lever or i depressing a suitable treadle, neither of which are shown as they are comown or approved is thus rotated in such a manner as to draw the next ply of, fabric to the left, Fig. 1 It will-be clear that this leading edge of the second ply will to stick ,or adhere to the first ply as a re sult of thepressure of the roll 19, and thus thesaid two plies will be driven along together following first ply, around the rolls 7, 30 and 28, until the leadin rend of the second ply is above t e operation of the machine will be stopped and the rear the table 34. At this juncture as for instance by pulling a suitable I mon means well understood in this industry. The shaft 5 the leading the course outlined by the number of plies which are desired to be in the completed tire, under the beadsthere of, have been put in place; and it will be clear that, as the machine is placing of each additional ply, the pressure of the roller 19, willserve to firmly press the rear end of the next preceding ply against the ply preceding it, in order to eliminate any faulty adherence which may exist after the said rear end has-been placed by hand onto the remainder of-the fabric for lapping with itsleading end, as described. f

The next. operation is to introduce a pair of ribbons of untreated fabric, such for instance as muslin, the passed over the rod 37 between the collars 38 and caused to adhere to the treated fabric 40immediately adjacent the rolls 7, and 19. The purpose of three strips is toprevent the next ply of treated fabric from firmly adhering to the preceding ply, as it ends of which are:

started for the is desi red to separate the fabric at this per part of the roll 19,

concave roller 45,: is mounted in a.-

ehape 46 and teed yieldingly hold the roller 45'away from 7 the eontact with the 7.,

polnt, 1n the subsequent-operation of buildmg the tire, in order to ermit the insertion of the beads. During his step the collars 38 serveto guide-the ribbons into exactly the desired relationship with respect to the. treated fabric. These muslin ribbons are indicated by 41 and they may be conveniently cut to substantially the same length as the plies 40 and hung on a suitable rack at the hand of the operator.

Following this, succeeding plies of treated fabric are positioned in exactly the same manner, but it is customary for these folowin plies to'be somewhat wider than the prcce ing ones, in order to enable them to properly surround and enclose the beads of the tire. The guide clips 36 are secured to the table 34 by a screw and slot arrangement so as to permit them to be adjusted inwardly or outwardly with respect to the table, and this enables them to act as uides for both the narrower and wider pies of treated fabric and keep them true on the table 34.

After .the desired number of wider plies or strips have been po. :ioned as indicated, the handle 18 ma be turned so as to elevate the roller 19, an the screw 33 turned so as to elevate th. roller and slacken the band of fabric plies. The band may then be lifted over the guide clips 36 ahd withdrawn edgewise from the rollers '41-, 30 and 28, after which it may be used in,the manufacture of the contemplated tire. The manner in which I prefer to build a tire from this fabric band is set forth in my co-pending application, Serial No. 389,665, filed June 17th, 1920.

It will be understood that, during the withdrawal of the treated fabric 40 from the stock roll 23, the intervening strip of muslin is automaticallfwound up on the.

roll '25, after its leading, end has been passed around'said roll by hand. The said roll 25 is. held a ainst accidental movement out of the stanciiion 2 and cross-head 4 by a cap-bar 42.

Suitable means are provided for applying to the fabric-band the rubber which is to compose the tread of the tire, in cas the operator so desires, andwthis means includes a feeding board 43. which is carried by brackets 44 formed integral with the stanchion 2 and'rross-head 4, and having its inner end immediately ad acent the up chape 46 which has ailmndle 47 and the other end of which is pivoted to a rod 48 thatis secured in the brackets 44. A rctraetile coil spring 49 is fastened to the board 43 in order to "'1. his roller 45 the rod 37. and matched comprising,

has its periphery concave to approximately the size and shape of, the designed tread for the contemplated tire, and it is mounted about centrally of the roll 7 so that it may be depressed by means of the haliille 47 into contact with the central portion otthe fabric band or rubber; thereon. In placing this rubber, a suitable strip 0 strips thereof is or are fed-along the board 43 around the roll 19, and then between the last named roll and the roll 7 while the roll 19 is.- elevated. Tbesaid roll. is then depressei and the machine started in operation, which will draw the'rubb'r strip around with the-fabric band just as in the case of a strip of fabric. When the leading end of the rubber strip reaches a position on the table 34 near the rod 37, the machine is stopped, and the rear end of the said strip pulled off from the roll 19, passed under with its leadin end to constitute a complrte endless rubber covering on the center of the fabric band. During the operation of the machine in this step, the roller 45 may be pressed down against the rubber as it passes around the roll 7 in order to cause it to firmly adhere to the fabric band; and, after the ends of the rubber strip have been matched, the operation of the machine ay be'continue'd a little further in order cause the rear end of the rubber to pass lietween'the rolls 7 and 19, and be subjected to the action of the roller 45. When the been thus a plied, the composite fabric and rubber ban may be rrmoved from the machine in the same way as described in connection with the removal of the fabric band a only. a

While I have described the feed board as being used for the purpose of inserting the rubber stri only, it may be noted that the same is a apted for feeding in fabric strips, instead of freding them from the stock roll 23. or in addition to feeding them from the stool if desired.

It will be understood that various changes-may be resorted to in theform, construction and arrangement of the several parts, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and hence I do notjntend to be limited to the details herein shown and describd, except as they may be included in the claims.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus of the character described a support of open formation, means for supply ng strips of fabric and ccssively thereto to form an endless band, and an intermediate device for supporting the ends of the strips while they are being united.

2. Apparatus of the character deserlbed comprising, a support of open formation, means for supplymg strips of fabric suc- Ill ' united, and means for pressing the strips oessively thereto to form an endless band, an intermediate device for snpportin the ends of the strips while they are ing into close mutual contact.

3. Apparatus of the character described comprising, a support of open formation, means for supplying strips of fabric successively thereto to form an endless band, an intermediate device for supporting the ends of the strips. while they are being united, and means for supplying a rubber covering to said band.

4. Apparatus of the character described comprising, a set of elements arranged in' open formation, means for supplying strips 0 fabric successively theretoto form an endless band, and an intermediate device for supporting the ends of the strips while they are being united.

5. Apparatus'of the character described comprising, a set of elements arranged in o n formation, means for supplying strips 0, fabric successively thereto to form an endless band, and means for supplying a rubber covering to said hand.

6. Apparatus of the character described comprising, a set of elements arranged in 0 en formation, means for supplying strips 0? fabric sucoessivel thereto to form an endles band, an in rmediate device for supporting the ends of the strips while-they are being united, and means for pressing the strips into close mutual contact.

7. Apparatus of the character described comprising, a set of elements arrangedin open' formation, means for supplying strips 0 fabric successively thereto to form an endless band, an intermediate device for endless band, means for pressing-the strips into close mutual contact, means for supplying a rubber covering to said band, and means for ressing said covering into close contact with the band.

10. Apparatuspf the character described comprising, a'set of rolls arranged in open formation, means for supplying strips of fabric successively thereto to form an andless band, and an intermediate device for supporting the ends of the stnpswhile they are being united.

11. Apparatus of the character described comprising, a set of rolls arranged in open formation, means for supplying strips of fabric successively thereto to form an end less band, and means for supplying a rubber covering to said band.-

12. Apparatus of the character described comprising, a set of rolls arranged in open formation, means for supplying strips of fabric successively thereto to form an endless band, an intermediate device for suporting the ends of the strips while they are eing united, and means for pressing the strips into close mutual contact.

13. Apparatus of the character described comprising, a set of rolls arranged in open formation, means for supplying strips of fabric successively thereto to form anendless band, an intermediate device for supporting the ends of the strips while they are cing united, and means for supplying a rubber covering to said band.

14. Apparatus of the character described comprising, a set of rolls arranged in open formation, means for supplying strips of fabric successively thereto to form an endless band, means for pressing thestrips into close mutual contact, and means for supplying a rubber coveringto said band.

15. Apparatus of the character described comprising, a set of rolls arranged in open formation, means for supplying strips of fabric successively thereto to form an endless band, means for pressing the strips into close mutual contact, means for suppiyin a rubber covering to said band, and means or pressing said covering into close contact with the band.

16. AP aratus of the character described comprising, a support of open formation, means for supplying strips of fabric successively thereto to form an endless band, and means for inserting sepuratin ribbons between certain of said strips of abric.

17. Apparatus of the character described cessively thereto to form an endless band; an intermediate device for supportingthe ends of the strips while they are being united, and means for inserting separating ribbons be tween certain of said strips of fabric.

comprising, a support of open formation, means for supplying strips of fabric suc- 18; Apparatus of he character oompris1ng,-a support of open formation,

means for supplying strips of fabric succee- 'cessivel thereto to from an endless band, means or pressing the strips into closemutual contact, and means for insertizg sepi stripe crating ribbons between certain of sa of fabric. 19. Apparatusgof the character described comprising, a support of open formation, means for supplying strips of fabric successively thereto to form an endles band, means for supplying a rubber covering to .1 comprising, a supp fa ric.

said band, and means for insertin separatribbons between certain of sai strips of fa ric.

20. Apparatus of the character describ d ort of 0 en formati means for supplying strips 0 fabric su sively thereto to form an endless band, an

intermediate device for supporting the ends of the strips while they are bein united, means for pressing the strips into c osc mutual contact, and means for inserting separatin ribbons between certain of sai strips of fa ric. v

21. Apparatus of the character described comprising, a support of open formation, means for supplying strips of fabric successively thereto to form an endless band, an intermediate device for supporting theends of the strips while they are being united, means for susplying arubber covering to said band, an means for insertin separatribbons between certain of sai strips of 22. Apparatus of the character described comprising, a support of open formation, means for supplying strips of fabric successively thereto to form an endless band, means for pressing the strips into close mutual contact, means for suppl ing a rubber covering to said band, an means for insertin separating ribbons between certain of sai strips of fabric.

- 23. Apparatus of the character described comprising, a support of open formation, means for supplzing strips of fabric successively thereto to orm an endless band, means for pressing the strips into close mutual contact, means for supp] ing a rubber covering to said band, means or pressing said covering into close contact with the band, and means for inserting separating ribbons between certai {if said strips of fabric.

In testimo y, that I claim the foregoing as my inventio I have signed my name this 10th day of une, 1920. I LOUIS P. DESTRIBATS. 

